Senate Farm Bill voting underway — call now!

The Senate has one more day to vote on key Farm Bill amendments. Yesterday, Day 1 of the complex voting process, was generally a good day — thanks to the hard work of the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) and many groups and individuals across the country. Let’s aim for more good news today!

Today’s vote includes the Chamblish amendment on conservation compliance. This amendment (#2438) would protect our natural resources by requiring recipients of crop insurance subsidies (i.e. our tax dollars) to use practices that protect natural resources. Please call your senator now, and urge them to vote YES on the Chamblish amendment.

This amendment would simply reinstate what was required prior to 1996, but then dropped. A call only takes a minute, and could help win a huge and important step toward healthier farming. You can find your senators' phone numbers and email addresses here.

Are you in California? Your call to Senators Boxer (202-224-3553) and Feinstein (202-224-3841) would be a great help. While you’re on the phone with their staffers, thank them both for voting yesterday to help pass Sen. Sherrod Brown's amendment supporting the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. Yes!

Next up: Battle in the House

Things are moving fast and furious in the Senate, and the House is close behind. Visit the NSAC website for frequent updates on Senate proceedings and for the forthcoming House negotiations — which are already underway.

is a PAN Senior Scientist with expertise in agroecology and soil ecology. As a long-time farmworker advocate, Margaret serves on the Board of the Equitable Food Initiative and works with partners around the country to ensure worker-protective federal and state policy. Follow @MargaretatPAN